Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-10-13
GREAT THE CHANGE!


1t wassthe hour of intermission in
Madame de La Biviere's famous school
for young ladies, and the groups of
gay girls scattered round the hall
were vocal with voice, and laugh, and
sound of merriment.
Foremost amongst them all stood
Clare Willoughby, with her blue eyes
sparkling with animation, aud her
splendid golden hair wound in a heavy
coil at the back of her head and Sc
cured with massive golden javelin
hilted with jewels.
Glare was not only pretty, but her
beauty was set off to the best advant-
age by dress and taste. Her robe of
deep-blue silk was by far the most ele-
giant in the apartment, and whenever
she moved her slender white hand,
you could see the fiery sparkle of dia-
monds and the ruddy glow of rubies
and carbuncles, while heavy gold
bracelets encircled both her wrists,
and tiny Geneva watch, studied with
pearls, hung at her belt.
Il would not be seen speaking to
her. said Glare, arching her naughty
scarlet lips, as she harangued select
audience consisting of the aristocracy
from the school, '.Just think of the
audacity of a girl presuming to come
to Madame de la Riviere's who wears
plain bingham and cotton gloves!'
YES" apologised Elsie Browne,
''but she doesn't pay like the rest of
us. She has her tuition for giving
Italian lessons to the girls in the pri-
mary department"
"a charity scholars" said Glare con-
temptuousiy.
Yes" put in Mary Palmer, "and
her mother embroiders for the shops.
My maid has Il married sister who
lodges in the same house, and says
they live shabbily enough. "
''It's shame of madame to allow her
to come to the same school with ladies"
sneered Glare; t'and |, for one. shall
certainly take the first opportunity to
let the seamtress's daughter perceive
that she has mistaken her vocation"
''Hush!" said Mary, ''there is the
bell; and there comes Isabel Plume1
now"
Miss Plumer, the pupil-teacher, con.
corning whom there had been such a
diversity of opinions, crossed the wide
hall at this moment. slight, graceful
girl, with large black eyes, and hair
whose midnight darkness betrayed her
semi-Italian parentage.
She smiled and nodded as she passed
Miss Willoughby, to whom she had a
few days before been formally intro
duced by Madame de la Riviere; but
Glare drew herself coldly up, and re-
turned the salutation by frigid, an
recognized stare. Isabel colored scar
let, and passed on.
.'Oh, Glare! how could you?" ex-
claimed the gentler-natured Elsie
Browne.
Thank you. I'm not on speaking
terms with the charity scholars, +" said
Glare carelessly.
A few hours later in the day the
scholars were all gathered in the Ital.
ian classroom waiting for Signor Fer
rani, when Madame de la Riviere came
in.
young ladies. / am sorry to say
that Signor Ferrani is unexpectedly
detained at home by sickness in his
family, but you wilknot lose your les.
son. Miss Plumer will for to-day as
sumo charge of the Italian class
There was murmur, partly of wei
come, partly of opposition, as Isabel
took her seat before the desk, blush
ing, vet composed. The next mo-
ment Glare Willoughby rose up in hel
place.
Madame, she said with calm arts
tocratic insolence, Il should like it to
be understood that / came to this
school to associate with ladies, not
charity pupils, and that / shall Ger
tainly decline to receive a lesson from
girl whose mother takes in sewing
for living!"
The tears sprang to Isabel Plumer'
eyes at this cruel taunt, but she still
had sufficient self-control to govern
her voice.
Miss Willoughby," she said, g
have yet to learn how my mother
vocation, or my own poverty, inca
pacitate me from giving instruction il
Italian. Your words are as unreason
able as they are-excuse the expires
sion-unladylike."
IF Miss Willoughby declines to tax,
the lesson, she is at liberty to retire,